Have you thought about the idea of remaining in your home, getting some cash out of the equity to enhance your lifestyle needs, and not having to make any payments on the loan or repay the loan until your surviving spouse dies? If you or your parents are 62 years of age or older, this [...]

Over time, you have probably heard about various financial institutions in Canada having problems or even going under. How do you find out what protections you have for savings or chequing account deposits in a bank, trust company or credit union?
You should be cautious about where you put your money. Many people assume that [...]

There are many risk areas that could affect your financial net worth, cash flow, quality of retirement, and lifestyle. In many cases, you can eliminate, minimize, or control each of these risk areas by knowing about them, doing research, and making prudent decisions. Statistically, if you retire at 55 years of age, you can expect [...]

At some time or other you have probably seen the ads: “Luxury Lifestyle at Affordable Prices!”–”Vacation the World!”–”Trade for Exotic Climes!”–”Buy Your Own Vacation Dream Home!” These refer to the concept of timesharing.
Other commonly used terms synonymous with timesharing include: resort timesharing, vacation ownership, multi-ownership, interval ownership and shared vacation plan. The timeshare concept [...]

Many Canadians own U.S. recreational property near border states. Retired Canadians who are seasonal residents of the U.S., or “Snowbirds” frequently own property in the U.S.
If either of the above situations applies to you, you may be renting out your U.S. property on a part-time or full-time basis when you are not using it. If [...]

Are you interested in buying recreational property in the near future? For example, a cottage, cabin, or chalet – maybe own it outright, or jointly buy the property with family, relatives or friends? Maybe you want to buy an apartment or townhouse condo in a resort or recreational community – and own it outright, or [...]

Professional advisors are essential to protect your interests. They can provide knowledge, expertise and objective advice in areas in which you have little experience. It is important to recognize when it is necessary to call in an expert to assist you. Because of the costs associated with hiring a lawyer, accountant or financial planner, some [...]

A “living will” is designed for those who are concerned with the quality of life when death is near. It is a written statement of your wishes to the people who are most likely to have control over your care, such as your family and your doctor. In order to ensure that your wishes are [...]

Estate planning refers to the process required to transfer and preserve your wealth in an orderly and effective manner, and a properly drafted will is the foundation of a strategic estate plan. From a tax perspective, your estate planning objectives include:

minimizing and deferring tax on your estate
minimizing taxes on your death so that most of [...]

You have probably heard of the concept of trusts. Sometimes they are referred to as family trusts, private trusts or corporate trusts. You have probably also heard of offshore trusts or international trusts. Generally there is a mystique about trusts, and a lot of unnecessary confusion about what they are, and when they should be [...]